Help picking out a CCW

M

mississippi_rifleman

New member
I just applied for my FL CCW permit and I want to get something a little smaller to carry than my G17. I have narrowed my list to these firearms:

(1) HK .357C
(2) G33
(3) SIG P229 in .357 SIG
(4) Steyr S357
(5) Mauser M2

Yea, there is an underlying them here. MADE IN GERMANY. Also, the Mauser is so new no one knows anything about it yet. BUT, it is Mauser and is made by SIG so how bad can it be? I like the HK, especially since you can get the Expert type barrel for it now, but it is right at the brink of being a little big. Can any shooters out there give me some input? How do they shoot and conceal? I live in Mississippi where its hot and humid on Christmas, so a tshirt and shorts or jeans is normal wear. Thanks!

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Ben Lee
Student, Senior
Computer Science
Mississippi State University
Fear the man that owns only one rifle,
he likely knows how to use it.
- Anonymous
 
Well, you're right about the Mauser. Never heard of it! Furthermore, I lost count of the Glock models at 27, but I assume the 33 is the .357 version of the 19/23.

That being said, I can't comment on the Mauser, don't care much for the Steyr (handled, but never shot it), and I like the Sig (got a 229), HK (shot a friend's 40c plenty) and Glock (got a 23).

My recommendation: The Glock. Why? Well, I knock out the HK because you can't get hi-caps for it; they never made them unless you're LEO (I'm toying with the idea of a compact 9mm, though). While you can get hi-caps for the Glock (I'm told .40 hi-caps will work) and Sig (my .40 hi caps say ".40/.357"), they are expensive. The reason I'd take the Glock over the Sig is weight; the Glock is much lighter. A bonus is that you can pick up LaserMax's for the Glock for around 300 bucks (the LaserMax for the Sig is aroudn 400).
 
My vote would be for the P229. Mine conceals well IWB and like every SIG i've ever picked up, accuracy and reliability is outstanding and IMO you can't find a better trigger than those on SIG's out of the box. My second choice would be the H&K but the grip won't hold all my fingers and I don't like that. Have you looked at the Beretta Cougar? If not, you may want to consider it as well. I carry the Beretta Cougar 8045 as well and it's sweet....Dan in GA
 
Take a look at the Beretta Cougars. I have and carry an 8040. They are good guns IMHO.
Also as far as Glock, I have a Md# 27 and love it and it may just replace the Cougar :)
In your climate and location the Glock 27 or 33 could serve you better for concealment. :)
Just my thoughts ;)
Hope this helps :)

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We preserve our freedoms by using four boxes: soap,ballot,jury, and cartridge.
Anonymous
 
If the theme is German made then you'll need to revise your list. Glocks and Steyrs are made in Austria and P229s are a hybrid of US and German made parts. ;)

I too recommend the P229. In a quality IWB such as Alessi's Talon Plus the P229 conceals very well for licensed carry. The DA/SA trigger pulls are very smooth, accuracy is tops and reliability is superb.

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So many pistols, so little money.
 
The Sig is "Swiss"
The Glock is "Austrian"
I think the Steyr and HK are supposed to be "German."

I see a trend in calibers though ;) I'd recommend the 40 over the .357 Sig though... that's just a personal preference. The Glock 33 with a +1 extension would be the best and the smallest option of the ones you mentioned... but I like the Sig 229 best if you don't mind a larger gun.

Ben

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Almost Online IM: BenK911
ICQ # 53788523
"Gun Control Is Being Able To Hit Your Target"
 
Hey, Ben - you *do* know that the P35 guns Mauser sold were made by FEG in Hungary?

Take a look at the hicap 380 thread, I'm looking too, just in a different direction. I was considering the single stack German HSc, with a double stack HSc Super made under license in Italy. Only one guy answered. He didn't think a lot of little bullets was a good idea.

Talking of stopping power, I'm really happy with the KORA26 I got a month or two back.
Take it easy. Good luck, too. Rusty



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John Moses designed it, I trust it, and that settles it.
 
Of the psitols you mention, none, except the Glock, offer any real size advantage over your model 17. The Glock 33 is appreciably smaller than the rest. Another option would be the Sig 239. JohnH
 
If CCW is your concern, you should really look into the G27. It's a real pain with out the finger extension, however I venture that even with the extension it is still smaller than any of your other choices. If I had the cash, I certainly would own one.

And granted this is not European, but I would give the new polymer Kahr a real hard look. I held one of these yesterday. It was very, very nice feeling. I highly recommend you go and hold it. I really want one. The limited capacity is of some concern, but it sure is thin.
 
I take it you're from Mississippi and you wanna get a CWL down here in Florida. Well guess what? I'm originally from Jersey and before moving down here, I was planning on carrying a S&W 4013 (which, by the way, is smaller than the P229). When I got down here, I discovered that it was too big to properly conceal due to the heat and mode of dress that wouldn't stand out. I then tried the 3913TSW which is smaller than the 4013. The 3913 works about four months out the year and when I have to dress up more than usual. The rest of the year, a Kahr MK9 rides on my hip. It's a bit on the heavy side but the weight helps to soften the recoil (which is snappy but controllable with hot loads).

By the way, I see that you're a computer science major graduating soon. That the same degree that I earned two decades ago. Good luck in finding a job as the job market is very good right now.
 
Are you going to be moving to FL or are you getting a non-resident FL CCW because of some problem in receiving a MS CCW? I've heard of people doing this to end-run their locals, but never seen it.

My choice would be the Glock or the Sig. I personally have the Sig and prefer it to my Glock 26. I just feel better with it and with the right belt/holster, carry and concealment isn't an issue. I'm in TN and have many of the same weather problems you do in MS or FL.

I've handled but not fired the Mauser. Completely unimpressed. Stupid safety design and a rotten trigger. Oh, Sig and Mauser, what have you done?

I liked the HK, which I have fired. Very controllable. But, it's a bit bulky, if lighter than the Sig. It seems to have more protrusions to get caught on things. Besides, it's butt ugly (in an efficient way). :)

The Steyr? The .357Sig versions are brand new and rarer than hen's teeth. I'd want to see them on the streets for a while before going for it.

In the final analysis, go for the Sig. You won't be sorry. Just make sure you get a .40/.357 combo so you can have ammo available anywhere in the country.
 
You forgot one. Look at the G26. The baby brother of your G17, and the perfect CCW pistol. You're G17 mags will fit it too. :) :) :)

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BOYCOTT SMITH AND WESSON!!!


Yeah, I got a permit to carry,it's called the friggin Constitution.---Ted Nugent

"Man killing is nasty business"---Finn Aagaard

Minor caliber my arse, 9mm rules the roost!!!!
 
Thanks for all the responses. Yes, I am getting the FL permit over MS, mainly because more state except that. I'm graduating in December and will be moving to Atlanta. The one thing I did want on it was a manual safety if possible. The HK looks nice, especially since I can get the Expert bbl for it. My only problem with the SIG is that it doesn't hold as many rounds as the rest. The P239 holds 7 and all the rest hold 10. I'm going be be a reserve officer when I get to Atlanta so I will get hi cap magazines. For those SIG owners, is there a manual safety on them? I've never handled one before. As for the countries of origin, they're all Germanic regions and have German as a second language. Germany, Switzerland, Austria....same thing. :)

Rusty - Not that I mind that they were made by FEG, buy now SIG owns them, so they back in Germany.

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Ben Lee
Student, Senior
Computer Science
Mississippi State University
Fear the man that owns only one rifle,
he likely knows how to use it.
- Anonymous
 
Ok for you non-glockers:

The 26/27/33 are all the exact same size (subcompact)

The only difference is caliber 9mm / 40 *&* / .357 sig

I would advise the G33 or G26 in a sidearmor IWB w/ 15 degre cant. www.sidearmor.net

I carry the Glock 26 9mm which like I said is the exact same size. it is extremely concealable in this holster. I did buy another Magazine without the grip extension for carry as it makes it that much more hidden.

If you can afford enough ammo to practise with then i suggest the G33. Otherwise I suggest the G26 because you can use one of your G17 high caps as a back up mag.
 
Natchez Shooter Supply has .357 SIG Blazers for $11.00/50. Winchester for $12/50 and Sellier & Bellot for $10/50. I've never shot Sellier & Bellot, but I heard they were good.

------------------
Ben Lee
Student, Senior
Computer Science
Mississippi State University
Fear the man that owns only one rifle,
he likely knows how to use it.
- Anonymous
 
SIGs do not have manual safeties -- decockers only.
FUD
TFL-smile.gif
 
So the SIGs are like the Glock in the safety area. Don't put your finge on the trigger and it won't go off. Actually, that works for all guns....but, anyway, I've had my G17 for about 8 or 9 years now so I'm used to that.

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Ben Lee
Student, Senior
Computer Science
Mississippi State University
Fear the man that owns only one rifle,
he likely knows how to use it.
- Anonymous
 
Ben,

You're correct that SIGs are Swiss made. SIG Sauers are German and US made however. SIG joined and eventually bought the German firm of Sauer & Sohns.

mississippi_rifleman,

Yes, SIG Sauers and Glocks rely on the same notion, keep your finger off the trigger. The main difference being that in a DA/SA SIG Sauer you've got 12 pounds of DA pull while on a Glock you've got 5.5 pounds standard (inless you get a lighter or heavier trigger). I prefer the heavier pull.

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So many pistols, so little money.
 
SIGs come in two flavors:<UL TYPE=SQUARE><LI> DAO - similar to the Glock but with a heavier trigger pull
<LI> "Traditional" DA/SA - the first shot is fired with a long, heavy trigger pull similar to a double action revolver (or the DAO model) and all subsequent shots are fired with a shorter, lighter trigger pull has the hammer is already in a cocked position. When the danger has passed, the decocker is used to bring the gun back into DA mode.</UL>
 
Do any of y'all know which of these guns has a full supported chamber?

------------------
Ben Lee
Student, Senior
Computer Science
Mississippi State University
Fear the man that owns only one rifle,
he likely knows how to use it.
- Anonymous
 
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